For the most part we were able to get through the 2021-22 high school basketball season without a hitch. It was another tough year to narrow all of these selections down, but here are my picks for the Northern Plains League this season. Congratulations to all of the area athletes on another fine season. As I have done once in the past, I will have an honorable mention player to note on the girls side. I feel like players that are clearly on track for a great season but see their season cut short due to injury definitely deserve credit for what they were able to do prior. Disclaimers: these are just one man’s OPINION on this basketball season. My opinion is also not that of my employer.
Boys 1st Team
Kylan Cunningham, 6’0″, Sr., G, Lakeside Knights
Cunningham is on my first team for the second straight season, helping lead the Knights to a tie for the regular season NPL title as they finished 11-1 in the league and 17-6 overall. They finished as the Sub-State Runner-up in 2021-22. Cunningham was a large part of the success as he averaged a career-best 17.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg. He scored in double figures in 18 of the 23 games Lakeside played, putting up 20 or more nine times. He scored career highs of 29 in a win over Chase on December 17 and in a 59-48 win over Osborne on January 28, which snapped a 25-game losing streak for the Knights against the Bulldogs. Cunningham shot 43% from the floor and 74% (43-50) from the free throw line. He was also 35% from beyond the three-point line, making a team high 56 from long range for the Knights.
Jonny Hamel, 5’9″, So., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Stockton High School had low numbers coming into the 2021-22 season, so that prompted Hamel to move and enroll in the Osborne school district. Hamel had an outstanding first season in the Northern Plains League, leading the 21-3 Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 14.1 ppg. Osborne tied for the league title at 11-1 and made it to the 1A-DI State Tournament. Hamel scored in double figures 17 times and had a career high 24 points on two occasions this season, the season opener against Southern Cloud on December 3 and also on February 22 at Smith Center. He also averaged 4.2 spg and 3.4 apg. He was second on the team with 41 made three-pointers, shooting 35% from beyond the arc. He shot 43% from the floor and 75% (50-67) from the free throw line.
Jaret Eitzmann, 6’1″, Senior, G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Eitzmann is on my first team after being on the second team as a junior. He averaged a career-best 15.4 ppg and added 7.3 rpg, 2.9 spg and made a team high 50 three-pointers. He shot 32% from the floor overall, but was 65% (54-83) from the free throw line. Eitzmann scored in double figures in 19 of 22 games this season. His career high came against Pike Valley on February 15 as he put up 28 points in a 66-62 win in Beloit. The Blujays went 12-10 in 2021-22, falling in the Sub-State semis to Northern Valley.
Valden Dohl, 6’2″, Jr., G/F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
Dohl is a first-timer on my all-NPL team, but broke out during his junior season. Needing to find offense to replace Jonah Huehl, the Mustangs got that in Dohl. He led the team at 13.1 ppg and added 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.9 spg. He shot 50% from the floor and made 33 three-pointers for the year. Overall, he was 33% from three-point land and 71% (24-34) from the free throw line. Dohl scored in double figures in 16 of the 21 games the Mustangs played this season. He helped them to an 18-4 overall record and a share of the NPL title at 11-1. Dohl scored a career high 22 in a 48-36 loss at Osborne on February 15.
Tyler Schoen, 5’9″, Sr., G, Lakeside Knights
Schoen is another player that was not on my all-NPL team a season ago. During his senior season, he excelled for the 17-6 Knights, averaging 12.0 ppg and adding 2.7 rpg. Schoen’s spot on the first team was solidified by his ability to create points for himself by getting to the free throw line. He attempted 132 free throws this season and made 103 for a 78% clip. He shot 35% from three-point land and was second on the team with 20 makes from long distance. Schoen scored in double figures 13 times and scored a career high 25 points in the final game of his career, the heartbreaking 46-41 double overtime loss to Osborne in the Sub-State Championship game.
Boys 2nd Team
Grady Wolters, 6’2″, Sr., G/F, Osborne (9.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 37% 3P (49 total), 80% FT)
Ronnie Thompson, 6’5″, Sr., C, Osborne (8.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 53% FG)
Jace Schoen, 6’3″, Sr., F, Lakeside (9.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.6 bpg, 2.1 spg, 2.0 apg, 63% FG)
Jaxon Russell, 6’3″, Sr., G/F, Pike Valley (15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 49% FG, 52% FT)
Daniel Eilert, 6’0″, So., F, St. John’s/Tipton (11.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.3 spg, 43% FG, 57% FT)
Boys 3rd Team
Gabe Rice, 6’1″, Sr., F, Southern Cloud (11.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 44% FG)
Keaton Reeves, 5’9″, Sr., G, Pike Valley (10.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.0 spg, 2.9 rpg, 64% FT)
Dylan Bice, 6’2″, Jr., G, Thunder Ridge (10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.6 spg; 40% FG, 23 3′, 69% FT)
Jaden Stauffer, 6’0″, Sr., G/F, Thunder Ridge (9.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 77% FT)
William Rhudolph, 5’9″, Sr., G, Sylvan-Lucas (7.8 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.9 spg)
Girls 1st Team
Trinity Lutters, 5’5″, Jr., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Lutters is on my first team for the third time in her three years of high school hoops. After averaging 18.6 ppg her first two seasons, she upped that to 20.6 ppg as a junior for the 22-2 Osborne Bulldogs. Lutters helped lead the Lady Dogs to the 1A-DI State Tournament for the second straight season. She also averaged 3.8 rpg, 3.3 spg, 3.0 apg and shot 49% from the floor. She was second on the team with 49 made three-pointers, shooting 34% from beyond the arc and she shot 64% from the free throw line at 43-67 on the season. On January 4, she surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her career and after the 2021-22 season has a total of 1,327 points. She scored in double figures in 22 of 23 games this season and notched career highs of 32 points on December 10 against Thunder Ridge in Stockton and February 11 at home against Stockton.
Lauren Whelchel, 5’10”, Jr., G/F, Rock Hills Grizzlies
Whelchel is on my first team for the second straight season after a second team pick as a freshman. She helped Rock Hills to their second straight winning season after not having one in over a decade prior to 2020-21. The Lady Grizzlies went 12-10, led by Whelchel averaging career highs of 17.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 2.7 spg. She shot 36% from the floor on the season, but had a penchant for getting to the free throw line as she finished 84-132 (64%) from the stripe this year. Whelchel scored in double figures in 19 of 21 games and had a season high of 28 at Lawrence/Nelson on January 11. Whelchel has 876 points in her career and is on track to reach 1,000 early in her senior season.
Keeli Knobbe, 5’10”, Jr., G/F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
Knobbe is also on my first team for the second straight season after being a second team pick in her freshman year. Knobbe helped the Lady Mustangs to a 17-5 record this season, averaging a career-high 16.4 ppg. She also added 5.9 rpg and 2.2 spg. Like Whelchel, Knobbe is on track for 1,000 career points in her senior season as she finished 2021-22 with 859 career points. Her career high of 27 came in a tough Sub-State semifinal loss to Rawlins County on March 4 in Sylvan Grove. Knobbe shot 40% from the floor and made a team high 25 three-pointers, shooting 45% from beyond the arc. She was also efficient at getting to the free throw line, finishing 66-95 (69%) on the season.
Gracie Riner, 5’5″, So., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Riner is on my first team after being a second team selection last season as a freshman. Riner was second on the team in scoring, putting up 12.6 ppg for the Osborne Lady Dogs this season. She led the team with 4.6 apg and added 4.4 rpg and 3.3 spg. She scored in double figures 15 times for Osborne during their State qualifying season. Her career high came in a 71-58 win at Lakeside on January 28 as she put up 25 points in the victory. Riner finished the year with 50 three-point makes to lead the 22-2 Lady Dogs in that category, shooting 38% from beyond the arc. She also was 81% from the free throw line at 21-26 for the season and shot 40% from the floor overall.
Paige Hollerich, 5’7″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Hollerich makes my first team after being a third team selection as a junior. Paige was one of the top players for the Lady Jays as they went 17-7 on the season and made it to the 1A-DII State Tournament for the second consecutive season. Hollerich averaged 8.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 2.7 apg, but her defense helped lead to offense for the Lady Jays as she led the team with 3.6 spg. Hollerich scored in double figures nine times this season, putting up a season high 17 in the NPL Quarterfinals against Thunder Ridge on January 17. She finished the year 41% from the floor, 35% from three-point land and 61% (30-49) from the free throw line.
Girls 2nd Team
Kylie Bergmann, 5’6″, Jr., G, Lakeside (14.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.1 spg, 1.8 apg, 32 3’s, 67% FT)
Lauren Brummet, 5’11”, So., G, Lakeside (10.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.4 spg, 41% FG)
Leah Brummer, 5’8″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 spg, 2.3 apg, 39% 3’s (34 total), 66% FT)
Candyce Engling, 5’7″, Jr., F/G, Natoma (15.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 28 3’s, 54% FT)
Mallorie Church, 5’7″, Jr., F, Tescott (13.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.6 spg, 2.4 apg, 40% FG)
Girls 3rd Team
Haylee Miller, 5’5″, Fr., G, Chase (15.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.1 spg, 35% FG, 28 3’s, 51% FT)
Ava Stull, 5’11”, Sr., C, Osborne (7.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 1.5 spg, 45% FG, 75% FT)
Toree Slavik, 6’0″, Jr., C, Thunder Ridge (11.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 49% FG, 55% FT)
Emma Finkenbinder, 5’7″, So., G, Sylvan-Lucas (7.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.9 spg)
Anna Thielen, 5’4″, So., G, Wilson (13.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 67% FT)
Girls Honorable Mention
Kamryn Rietzke, 5’5″, So., G, Thunder Ridge (6 games; 19.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 47% FG, 59% FT)
Previous All-League Teams
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15 (No team as I missed all of the regular season due to sickness)
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
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